It’s easy to fly under the radar in the rap game these days. Tons of fans constantly have their eyes and ears on rappers’ day to day matters expecting routine leaks and news like clockwork. Meanwhile, rappers who stay quiet “too long” in internet time make people start wondering if they’ll end up on a milk carton.

Blu, despite claiming otherwise, has been one of those dudes shying from the limelight since he wowed the e-masses with 2007’s Below The Heavens alongside Exile. Perhaps there’s a method to the madness since heads are used to new music being released and readily available at a rapid pace. Yet it’s evident Blu’s fans really wanted to know if he planned on releasing another effort meeting or exceeding Heavens‘s magnitude.

Now Mr. Barnes is here for the faithful waiting to hear from the elusive MC. He chatted with Hard Knock TV on his latest endeavors as well as his experience thus far as a signee to Warner Bros. Records. Blu also revealed info on NOYORK!, his second solo long player, featuring production from Exile, Madlib, Flying Lotus and Double O to name a few. Dude mentioned he has more albums on the way but I’m focusing my attention towards NOYORK! and its yet announced release date. It’s finished and currently getting mixed according to the Cali lyricist. Here’s to a launch sometime this year as 2011 is still young.

Join The Discussion

If you count all of Blu’s project except for the Piece Talks (I wasn’t a fan of that), then you should have a lot of shit to hold you down for a minute.

Also don’t forget his re- HerFavoriteCol(ur) & Godleebarnes LP is being rereleased as a double LP, MASTERED. Supposed to drop in March so get ready!

02.27.11 at 10:27 pm

Gotty™

How many copies you buying Athrin? I bet it’s at least 3 lol.

I still play Johnson and Jonson heavy too.

02.27.11 at 10:43 pm

thecool11o3

This cat is like a myth in Los Angeles lol.

02.27.11 at 10:59 pm

Patrique

Really really REALLY want a master of his instrumental EP, but I may just be getting greedy. That’s my favorite thing he’s done (well, that and his guest spots on How I Got Over).

Definitely checking for this though. Great producer list and Blu’s unfuckwithable on the mic, such a distinctive style, laid-back but assertive.

Anyone else check out his project w/Danny Brown? “It’s An Art”. Really solid except for the last track which went on forever and did nothing for me. But, like almost everything Blu has done, it’s so low-fi it may turn off most listeners. Yet another album that could use a proper mastering.

02.27.11 at 11:29 pm

Athrin

@Gotty As a man who have seen me pay homage to the Church of Blu daily of Twitter… 5.

02.27.11 at 11:34 pm

Da$Haze$Invada

barnes! the VP project was tight too

02.27.11 at 11:46 pm

Young Stereotype aka Lil Cliche

Blu has a dope style and is creating his own lane which is why I fuck with him. The only flaw I’ve ever seen in homie is his lack of quality MP3’s. Other than the sound quality, he is an amazing emcee.

I really hope that theGODleeBarnes LP actually comes out mastered,but I heard he lost all the files for it so…

02.27.11 at 11:50 pm

Willie P

I still keep Below The Heavens in my rotation. If I ever stumble upon that at a record store or bookstore or something then i’ll be happier than happy, yo.

02.28.11 at 1:37 am

Patrique

Having actually watched this, Blu seems like the absolute coolest dude with the complete right idea about creating and distributing music, although the words about the label were a little…troubling.

02.28.11 at 2:33 am

vallejo

I’ve listed my copy of Below The Heavens on ebay. Go bid if you don’t have it already:

@Athrin – really? CRAC is by far my favorite project Blu’s been a part of so far, i never understood the hate for that one

@Patrique – Danny Brown’s “It’s A Art” was produced by Mainframe (the other half of Johnson&Jonson), not Blu. its supposed to be released under the name Danny Johnson this year but who knows now thats it been bootlegged

02.28.11 at 6:06 am

Greums : Greatest Unknown Soccer Player Ever

#%MyGod

02.28.11 at 11:38 am

Aaron Smarter

Yo, the NEW album with Exile is BANANAS…

But, uh… y’all not supposed to know about that yet.

NoYork sounds pretty gangsta though… Blu’s lyricism is going into a WHOLE other zone right now. His production is coming up too.

LMAO @ “I’m all over here working”… Yeah, he has been. I’m proud of my dude…

04.10.11 at 3:16 pm

tracie

To all of you who think Blu hasn’t dropped any new music since Below the Heavens and are begging him to drop this mixtape… read this message and educate yourself.